Scoreboard



May 9, 1944. B. A. WARMEY ETAL S COREBOARD Filed June 13, 1940 5Sheets-Sheet 2 ,ml ljjL-- L "NL mi ff Q N mi X5 Q kg az n 4 @L 'm5 Q ELEl r Filed June 15, l19.40 3 Sheets-Sheet. Y

Patented May 9, 1944 2,348,431 scoannoaap Bernard A. Warmey and WilliamJ. Moreland, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignorsby meme assignments,

v to George W. Borg Corporation, Chicago, Iii.,

a corporation of Delaware 9 Application Jnne'1a194o, serial 10,340,378

12 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to scoreboards, such as may beused for visually indicating the progress of a game to the spectators,and more in particular to a scoreboard o1 this type which is adapted foruse in connection with the game of basketball. The object of theinvention is the provision of a new and improved device of thischaracter.

The invention and various features thereof will be described in detailhereinafter, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Fig. 1 is a front view of the complete scoreboard, comprisinghome team and visitors scoring devices and a central clock cabinet;

Fig. 2 is a top view of one of the scoring devices, with casingassembled Fig. 3 is a section through one of the scoring devices, on theline 3 -3, Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a front view of one of the scoring devices, with the frontpart of the casing .removed:

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5, Fig. 4; while Fig. 6 is adiagrammatic circuit drawing showin! the electrical connections.

Referring to Fig. l, the scoreboard is con-l structed on the .sectionalplan, and comprises three separate casings or cabinet sections II), Il,and I2, which are of uniform height and are adapted to be mounted sideby side against a team appear` below the display opening I3', and thenumerals 1 and 2 are -shown in the opaque space I6' instead of thenumerals 3 and 4. It may be mentioned here that the numerals 1 to 4 areused to indicate the four quarters of the game and are convenientlydivided between the two scoring sections, which makes a symmetricalarrangement.

, The second or central section Il comprises a casing in which iscontained the clock motor, a signal horn, and two relays which will bedescribed hereinafter. The front of the casing is arranged to resemblea' clock face, as show n in Fig. 1. The hand Il is the minute-hand andis driven by the clock motor through the medium of suitable gearing sothat it makes one complete rotation in eight minutes, corresponding othe length of the quarters in high school basketball.

, hand, each division represents one second. As

wall or other support to form a complete score- Y board. While'theinstallation may be more or less permanent, the scoreboard is portableand the sectional construction greatly facilitates handling andtransportation from place to place. At` the same time the arrangement issuch that the appearance of a unitary structure is presented lwhen thethree sections are assembled for. use.

The right hand section I2` comprises -a sheet metal casing in which iscontained scoring apparatus capable of displaying any' number containingone or two digits. This apparatus consists of an arrangement of tubularlamps .and a1 switch for controlling them, all of .which will bedescribed in detail. The front of the casing has a rectangular openingI3 therein, behind which there is secured a sheet of glass 35 (Figs. 3and 5) having translucent portions I l and I5 and a portion I6 which isopaque to light. 'I'he portion IG may be made opaque by a coating ofblack paint or other suitable material. The numerals 3 and 4 aretranslucent and are made in any suitable manner, as by pasting papernumerals to the glass before the paint is applied and removing .themafter the paint is dry. The word Visitors appears below the opening I3in large letters which may be painted or'stencilled on the casing in anysuitable manner.

'.l'he rst section I0 is similar to the third section in all respects,except that the words "Home regards the minute-hand, fifteen divisionsrep'- resent two minutes, thirtydivisions four minutes, and so on. Thehands are mounted on two concentric shafts which extend through -thefront of the casing, said shafts being driven at the proper speedsbysuitable gearing and a motor in known manner. The motor will bedescribed more in detail in Vconnection with the circuit drawings, Fig.6. At the lower front of the casing II there is a grill I9 behind whichthe signalhorn is mounted.

It will be convenient now to consider one oi part of the casingcomprises the back 2l, sidesl 2l and 22, top 23, and bottom 24. The`front part comprises thefront 25, sides 26 and 2l, the top 2l, andbottom 29. The two parts are assembled edge-to-edge, as shown in Figs.2, 3,

and 5. The front 25 is cut out at I3, as indicated in Fig.v 1, andbehind the opening the sheet of glass 3|! issupported as shown.

l Within the casing there is a chassis comprising the back 3l, sides 32and 33, top 34, and bottom 35. The chassis also resembles a shallowrectangular pan. The sides 32 and 33 are extended at right angles -asindicated at 36 and 31. The chassis is ofthe proper height to fit snuglys within the casing, where it is hold by screws. As

indicated in Figs. 2 and 5, there are a plurality of screws passingthrough the top members 23 and 28 of the casing, said screws beingthreaded into the top member 34 of the chassis. Similar screws passthrough the bottom members 24 and and are threaded into the bottommember 3l The lamps forming the visual indicator may be of the typeknown as Lumeline" and are mounted on the chassis. 'Ihe sockets 40 to41, inclusive, are mounted on the back member 3| of the chassis,together with four double sockets such as 43, and serve to support andconduct current to the vertical lamps B', C', E', F', B, C, E, and F.There are also four sockets mounted on back member 3| vfor accommodatingthe diagonally positioned lamps H and H. The horizontal lamps A', D. G',A, D, and G are supported on three sockets such as 50 mounted on thechassis rim 30, three sockets such as 0| mounted on the opposite rim31,and three double sockets such as 52 mounted on a vertical strip 53 whichis attached above and below to top and bottom members 3| and 35 of thechassis.

' The vertical lamps are provided with shields such as 55, of U-shapedcross-section, which are cut out around the sockets and are secured toback member 3|. Each shield takes care of two lamps, as indicatedclearly in Fig. 5. Similar shields are provided for the lamps H' and H.-Each pair of horizontal lamps, such as A' and A,

is provided with a shield such as 56, the construction of which will beobvious from the several views of the drawings. The purpose of theshields .so prevent diffusion of light to the sides of the lamps, whichwould otherwise render the outline of the lamps indistinct.

There are two lamp sockets 60 and 6| mounted on vthe chassis, as seen inFig. 3, which support lamps B2 and 63. The sockets are properly locatedso that the lamps are directly behind the numerals 3 and 4 shown in Fig.l. Shields 64 and 65 are provided to prevent diiusion of light fromthese lamps. Also mounted on the chassis are two switches S1 and S2,only the outline of which is shown, owing to the scale of the drawings.These switches are of known type and are explained in connection withthe circuit drawing. 4

Lamps A' to H constitute a set and are used for displaying the tensdigit in the score. Lamps AA to H likewise constitute a set and are usedfor displaying the units digit. In order to display desired digits, -thelamps are lighted in different predetermined combinations in which theyare effective to form the outlines of the digits. Thus, if the digit 0is to -be displayed on the units set, the lamps A, B, C, E, F, and G arelighted. For

convenience the following table is inserted to It will be understoodthat the two scoring tion with Fig. l, and hence the precedingdescription will serve for both. The description of the casing andchassis will also suihce as regards the clock section Il, where thediiierent Yequipment items are mounted on the chassis in any suitablemanner.

Referring to Fig. 6, the scoreboard is operated from a control panelindicated by the rectangle |00. This equipment maybe in the form of asmall cabinet adapted to be supported on a table -or in any convenientmanner. On the cabinet are mounted keys Kl to K", inclusive, thefunction of which will be explained presently.

In order to carry out the quick assembly and portability feature, thecontrol cabinet and the three equipment sections are connected by plugand Jack connections, as indicated at |0I, |02, and |03. The jacks arepreferably located on the central clock section at the rear of thecasing. The conductors coming from the scoring sections |0 and I2 are inthe'form of cables, three or four feet long, terminating in plugs. Theconductors coming from the control cabinet are also prefrably in theform of a plug-ending cable which, however, should be much longer. Onehundred feet or more may be supplied, depending on the situations inwhich the equipment is to be used.

The diilerent items of equipment in the clock section will now bedescribed briefly. 'I'he switch S3 is a step-by-step switch of knowntype, comprlsing a stepping magnet |04, an associated ratchet mechanismfor driving a double wiper or brush |05, and a bank of eight or morecontacts which are multipled together in groups of four, as shown. 'I'hebrush |05 connects the common segment |06 with the individual contactsselectively, as will be readily understood.

The clock motor and associated gearing for driving the hand shafts arerepresented by the circle |01. The motor is of known type, being areversible synchronous motor, adapted to run on Acommercial 60-cyclealternating current. Re-

lay |08 is a reversing relay. A cam ||4 is mounted on the minute-handshaft |09 and controls contact springs and II3. A similar cam ||5 on thesecond-hand shaft ||0 controls the condevices, sections I0 and |2, arethe same except for the slight diil'erences mentioned in connec- 75 tactspring ||2. These cams control the circuit of the signal horn IIB, whichis preferably of the low voltage type and is supplied with current bythe step down transformer ||1. Relay ||8 is for stopping the horn undercertain conditions which will be explained.

At the right of Fig. 6 are shown the tens and units switches S1 and S2which are provided for controlling the lamp sets in the scoring sectionI2. The switch S1 comprises two ratchet mechanisms and two banks ofcontacts with their associated wipers or brushes |215 to |28, inclusive,and |29 to |32, inclusive. Both sets of brushes are mounted on a commonshaft |22, and all the brushes are conductively connected. The shaft |22is rotated in a counterclockwise direction bya ratchet mechanismcomprising stepping magnet |20 and ratchet Wheel |2|, and in a clockwisedirection by the ratchet mechanism comprising stepping magnet |23 andratchet wheel |24.

The banks are divided into eight quadrants which are labeled in-thedrawings as X' and A to G', inclusive. Each quadrant hasten contacts,corresponding to the digits 0 to 9 and numbered in that order when thecounterclockwise direction of the switch is considered. 'I'he wiperwhich moves over the X quadrant makes connection with one side of thecurrent source in al1-positions and thus renders all the other wipersactive. Each of the other quadrants is associated with a particularlamp, quadrant A' being used for controlling lamp A', quadrant B' forcontrolling lamp B', etc. An exception to the foregoing is quadrant E',which controls lamp H' as well as lamp E'.' In view of the numbering ofthe contacts it will be understood that the switch adds when driven in acounterclockwise direction and subtracts when driven Iirl the oppositedirection.

. The switch S2 is similar to switch S1.'l The ratchet mechanismcomprising stepping magnet |34 and ratchet wheel |35 drives the shaft|38 in a counterclockwise direction, and the ratchet mechanismcomprising stepping magnet |31 and ratchet wheel |38 drives theshaft ina clockwise direction. On the shaft |36 are mounted two sets of wipers|45|48 and |48-|52. With each set of wipers there is associated a bankof contacts, divided into four quadrants, as shown. The arrangement hereis the same as in switch S1, already described.

Switch S2 is provided with means for controlling switch S1 comprising acontact spring |39 winch is effectively operated when the armature ofstepping magnet |34 is fully attracted, and a contact spring |40 whichis similarly controlled by the armature of stepping magnet |31.

The scoring section I for the home team is the same as section i2 andconsequently is not shown in detail in Fig. 6, being indicated merely bya rectangle. The circuits for the lamps which illuminate the quartersdigits 1 and 2 are, however, shown in the drawings.

The central clock section may be provided with a-pairV of powerterminals |55 and |56, to which a plug-ending cord comprising conductors|51 and |58 is attached. By plugging into an available socket commercialcurrent is supplied to the equipment. It should be mentioned that thevarious magnets and relays are designed to operate on alternatingcurrent; that is, they will hold their armatures attracted as long astheir circuits are closed.

rI'he operation of the equipment in scoring a game of basketball willnow Ibe explained briefly. Shortly before the game is to start, the plugattached to the cord comprising conductors |51 and |58 is inserted in aconvenient socket, as

Y mentioned previously, and power is supplied to the equipment.

Assuming that the tens and units switches Sl and S2 are in the positionin which they are shown, that is, the position corresponding to thedigit 0, the lamp set comprising lamps A' to G, inclusive, will displaythe digit 0 as the tens digit and the lamps of set A to G, inclusive,will display the digit 0 as the units digit. The circuit of the tenslamps extends from terminal |56 by way of conductor |80, zero contact ofquadrant X', brush |25, brushes |26, |21, |28, |38, I3l, and |32 inparallel, lamps A', B', C', E', F', and G' in parallel, and thence overconductor |8| to terminal |55. The circuit for the units lamps issimilar and need not be traced in detail, it being understood that thecorrespoding lamps A, B, C, E, F, and G are lighted. Thus the digit 0 isdisplayed as the tens and units digits at the scoring device I2.

It may .be assumed that the tens and units switches in scoring device I0are also in zero position, and accordingly this scoring device will alsodisplay the ldigit 0 as both the tens and units digits.

Assuming that switch S3 is in the position shown, a circuit for lightingthe lamp in scoring device I0 which illuminates the quarters digit 1will be closed, said circuit extending from terminal |56 by way ofconductor |62, conductor |18, common segment |08, brush'-|05, firstcontact in bank of switch S3, conductor |63, lamp behind digit 1, andconductor |64 to terminal |55. The illumination of the quarters digit 1indicates that the first quarter is about to start.

Having observed that the scoring devices are Y in proper order, theoperator at the control cabinet now notes the positions of the hands ofthe clock, which should both be set at the digit 8, Fig. l. Assumingthat the hands are in the position in which they are shown, the operatorthrows the key K5 to the left, thereby closing three circuits which willbe described. The iirst circuit extends from terminal |56 by way ofconductor |82, conductor |18, field winding .|65 of the clock motor,conductor |66, conductor |80, contact |61 of key K5, conductor |68, andconductor |68 to terminal |55. This circuit energizes winding |85. 'I'hesecond circuit extends from terminal |56 by Way of conductor |62,Winding of relay |08, conductor |18, conductor |14, contact |15 of keyK5, conductor |68, and conductor |68 to terminal |55. This circuitenergizes relays |08, which attracts its armature |12 and opens thecircuit of shading coil |1|, at the same time closing the circuit ofshading coil |10. Winding being energized, the clock motor now runs inthe proper direction to move hands |1 and |8 backward, or in acounter-clockwise direction. The hands will come together at the digit8, and when Vthey reach this point the clock motor is stopped byrestoring key K5 The third circuit above referred to' extends fromterminal |56 by way of conductor |62, conductor |18, conductor |18,winding of relay ||8, conductor |11, contact |16 of key K5, conductor|68, and conductor |63 to terminal |55. Relay ||8 energizes when thecircuit is closed and locks itself to conductor |68 via its armature |8|and contact ||3, the latter being closed at this time by minute-hand cam||4. The locking circuit is independent of key K5, so relay ||8 remainsenergized after the key is restored. In its energized position, relay||8 holds open a circuit for operating the signal horn, said circuitextending from terminal |58 by way of conductor |62, conductor |18,conductor |18, primary winding of transformer ||1, contact |82, contactat spring ||2 (closed by the second-hand cam ||5 when the hand points tothe digit 8), contact at spring (closed by minute-hand cam I4), andconductor conductor |88 to terminal |55. Upon the clo-A sure of theabove circuit current is caused to -flow in the secondary winding oftransformer |1 and through the horn. When the horn sounds, the

ball is put in pla`y and at the same time thev operator actuates key K5to the right. 'I'his operation of the key closes a circuit for the motorwinding |85 over a path the same as that previously traced, except thatit includes contact |88 of key K5, and the clock motor is started.

Relay |08 not being energized, the motor runs in such a direction thatthe hands I1 and I8 are moved forward, that is, in a clockwisedirection. As soon as the hand I1 has advanced a short distance the cam|I4 permits the locking circuit |84 of relay |I8 to open at spring I|3and the relay deepergizes.

The clock continues to run while the ball is in play and its instantposition always indicates the number of minutes and seconds of thequarter which remain to be played. In case a foul is committed, thesignal horn is sounded and the clock motor is stopped by restoring keyK5. The

clock is again started by operating the key when play is resumed. Itwill be understood also that the clock is stopped and startedagain whentime is taken out for any other reason.

The operation of thescoring devices may now be considered. Assuming thatthe visiting team scores on a free throw, the key K4 is actuated to theright, or to adding position, and key K7 is momentarily operated,thereby closing a circuit 'which extends from terminal |56 by way ofconductor |60, winding of stepping magnet I 34 of units s witch S2,conductor |86, conductor |81, conductor |88, key K4, key K7, conductor|68, and conductor |60 to terminal |55. 'Upon the closure of thiscircuit, magnet |34 is energized sult is that an impulse is transmittedto the stepping magnet and the tens switch Sl is advanced one step fromzero position to the position corresponding to the digit 1. The digit 1is now displayedl as the tens digit and the digit 0 as the units digit,showing a score of ten points.

As the game continues the units switch is advanced one or two steps at atime as scores are made until the score of nineteen is displayed. Whenthe next point is scored the tens switch is again advanced in the mannerdescribed, and the digit 2 is displayed as the tens digit, while thedigit 0 is displayed as the units digit. Thus the scoring device shows ascore of twenty points.

In the event a point is scored in error which advances tlie tens switchS1, as. when the switches are advanced to show a score of ten or twentyand the ratchet wheel |35 is advanced one step,

which advances the brushes |45|62 from the zero position to the positioncorresponding to the digit l.. The digit 1 is thus displayed as theunits digit instead of the digit 0. The digit'zero, however, is stilldisplayed as the tens digit.

Assuming now that the visiting team scores on a eld goal, the operatorgoes through the same procedure as before, except that the key K't isactuated twice momentarily. Magnet |34 is thus given two impulses, whichadvances the switch S3 to the position corresponding to thel digit 3.Accordingly this digit is now displayed as the units digit.

When the home team scores, the units switch in the scoring device I0 isadvanced in the same manner as described, by means of keys K3 and K8,the former key being set in the adding position.

In case a point is scored by mistake, or is not allowed after beingscored, the units switch such as S2 is stepped backward in order tocorrect the score. In order to accomplish this the operator actuates keyK4 to the left, or, to the subtract position, and then actuates key K'Ionce or twice,

depending on the amount of the error. One or more impulses are thustransmitted to the step'- ping magnet |31 and the switch is stepped in areverse direction to the proper position. The circuit 'of magnet |31extends from terminal |56 by way of conductor |60, winding of stepping ymagnet |31, conductor |90, conductor I 9|, conductor |92, key K4, keyK", conductor I68, and

conductor |69 to terminal |55.

Assuming now that nine oints have been scored by the visitl team, theunits switch will have been advanceo its ninth position, wherein thedigit 9 is displayed as the units digit. When another point is sc ored,the stepping magnet |34 will be given another add impulse in the mannerexplained, and the switch brushes will be advanced from ninth positionto zero position, each brush moving ahead into the next quadrant., Whenbrush |50 moves from ninth position in quadrant E to zero position inquadrant D, a circuit is completed for advancing the tens switchv S1,said circuit extending from terminal |56 by points, it becomes necessaryto step both switches backward in order to correct the mistake. The umtsswitch S3 is stepped backward fromgzeroto ninth position in the manneralready explained. When the wiper such as |50 movesfrom quadrant D backto the ninth bank contact in quadrant E, a circuit isy completed for thestepping magnet |23 which extends from terminal |56 by way of conductor|60, brush |45, brush |50, conductor |95, contact at spring |40 (magnet|31 being energized) conductor |96, winding of steppingmag net |23, andconductor I6I to terminal |55. An impulse is thus transmitted to thestepping magnet |23 which steps the tens switch backward one step. Thusthe error is corrected by the reverse stepping of both the units andtens switches. It will be understood that in casethe score is changedfrom a number such as nineteen to twenty-one by mistake, two subtractimpulses will have to be transmitted to the units switch. The rstvsubtract impulse will step the units switch` back one step while thesecond will step back both switches in the manner` described.

When the time for the rst quarter has nearly expired the hand I1 willhave made nearly one complete rotation and cam I |4 will again close thecontact at spring When the secondhand I8 catches up with the hand |1 onthe eighth rotation of the second-hand, the hands will come together atthe digit 8 on the clock dial and cam II5 will close the contact. atspring II2. The latter operation, which has been ineffective during theseven'previous rotations of the second-hand,- due to the inoperativeposition of cam II4, now closes the previously traced signalling circuitand the horn II6 is automatically sounded, indicating the end of thequarter. The horn is sounded for about two seconds, being stoppedautomatically when the clock runs past the starting point. The operatorthen sto'ps the clock motor by restoring key K5 and starts it in thereverse direction by reversing the key in order to set the hands at thedigit 8, as previously explained. The operation of key K5 to reversethe'clock motor also operates relay ||8 over a circuit previously tracedand the relay locks itself at armature |8|, thereby preventing therenalling circuit at amature |82.

The clock hands are now in position to start the second quarter, and thescoring devices display the scores made so far by .the respective teams.During the intermission the operator will advance the switch S3 one stepby momentarily operating the key K2, which closes a circuit extendingfrom terminal |56 by way of conductor |62, conductor |19, winding ofstepping magnet |04, conductor |98, conductor |89, key K, conductor |68,and conductor |59to terminal |55. The single impulse thus transmittedtothe stepping magnet |04 causes the latter to advance the switch S3 onestep from position I to position 2, in which a circuit is completed forthe lamp located behind the quarters digit 2 in the scoring device I0.The illumination of this digit indicates that the second quarter isabout to be played.

The operation of the equipment during the second and succeeding quartersis the same as described. At the end of each quarter except the last theoperator sets the clock hands in readiness for the next quarter andsteps the switch S3 ahead one step. 'I'hus during the third and fourthquarters, respectively, the lamps 52 and 53 will be lighted. If thescore is a tie at the end of the fourth quarter, the operator preparesfor the overtime period by reversing the clock and allowing it to. runbackward until it shows three minutes left to play. In other words, theclock motorl is run in the reverse direction until the second-hand hasmade three complete rotations. The length of the overtime period can, ofcourse, be varied by agreement and may be two minutes instead of three.i of the clock motor is of considerable advantage in this situation, asit saves a large part of the time that would otherwise be occupied inrunning the clock forward from 8 to 3 or 2.

When the game is over the switches in the scoring devicesmay be steppedto `zero position` by transmitting subtract impulses thereto in themanner described, in order that they may be in the proper position thenext time the equipment is used. The switch S3 may also be stepped aheadto iirst position, or multiple thereof. The equipment is thendisconnected by withdrawing the plug associated with conductors |51 and|55.

It will be seen that the invention provides a scoreboard having numerousadvantages as regards simplicity and rapidity of operation, accuracy,and completeness of the information displayed, as well as the highdegree of visibility afforded. While the construction and operation havebeen described in detail, this has been done for convenience inexplaining 'a desirable form of the invention, and it will be understoodthat modifications can be made, particularly as regards the equipmentitems specified, without departing from the spirit of the inventiom Wedo not therefore wish to be limited to the exact The reversibility formof the invention which is shown and deunits switch for automaticallystepping the tens switch in either direction.

2. In a scoring device, tens and units indicator lamps, tens and unitsswitches for controlling said lamps, stepping magnets in each switch fordriving the same in either direction, and circuits for the steppingmagnets of the tens switch controlled, respectively, by the steppingmagnets oi -the units switch.

3. In a scoring device, tens and units indicator said lamps, a steppingmagnet in each switch, contacts controlled by the armature of thestepping magnet of the units switch, and a circuit for the steppingmagnet of the tens switch which includes said contacts and a bankcontact of said units switch.

4. In a lamp indicator, a chassis, sets of tubular lamps mounted on saidchassis, a casing comprising front and rear pan-shaped parts disposed onopposite sides of said chassis with their open edges together, means forremovably securing each of said parts to said4 chassis, and atranslucent window .in said front part through which characters aredisplayed by said lamps.

5. In a basketball scoreboard system, a set of lamps for displaying anyunits digit, a set of lamps for displaying any tens digit, unitsV andtens switches for controlling said lamp sets, respectively, operatorscontrol equipment, means included in said equipment for transmittingimpulses to said units switch to increase or decrease the value of theunits digit displayed by the assoelated lamps, and means automaticallyresponsive to an impulse transmitted to the umts switch at a time whenthe highest units digit is displayed for advancing the tens switch toincrease the value of the tens digit displayed,

6. In a scoreboard, indicating means comprising two tubular lampsvertically disposed in two spaced parallel lines, three horizontaltubular lamps spaced apart and crossing said vertical lamps, adiagonally disposed tubular lamp, a stepby-step switch having a wiperfor controlling each lamp, circuits closed by said wipers in oneposition of said switch for illuminating a combination of said lamps fordisplaying the digit zero, and circuits closed by said'wipers insuccessive adjacent positions of said switch for illuminating differentcombinations of said lamps to display the digits one to nine,respectively, whereby the step-by-step operation of said switch throughall its positions causes the display of the digits zero to nine inregular order.

7. n a scoreboard, a set of lamps for displaying any digit when lightedin different combinations, a switch for selecting said combinations, addand subtract magnets for stepping said switch in either direction,circuits for said mag-- nets, respectively, manually operated means forselecting either magnet circuit at will and for closing ithe selectedcircuit at one point to prepare for impulse transmission thereover, andamanually operated device for transmitting stepping impulses over theselected circuit by closing the same at another point.

8. In a scoreboard,.a plurality of lamps for displaying any digit whenlighted in dilIerent combinations, a switch for selecting saidcombinations, said switch having a number of wipers equal to the numberof said lamps, circuit connections including one wiper for supplyingcurrent to`all the other wipers, circuit connections including saidother wipers for distributing the current to a like plurality of saidlamps. respectively, and a circuit for the remaining lamp including oneof said other wipers in a position in which the corresponding lamp isunlighted` 9. In a scoreboard, a set of tubular lamps for displaying anytens digit, a set-of tubular lamps for displaying any units digit, twostep-by-step switches for controlling the tens digit lamps and the unitsdigit lamps, respectively, each said switch having a plurality of wipersand a plurality of cooperative contact banks for supplying currexit tosaid lamps in diierent digit combinations in` diilerent positions of thewipers, add-and-subtract magnets in each switch for stepping the wipersthereof in opposite directions, two contacts adapted to be closed byenergization of (the add-and-subtract magnets, respectively, of theunits digit switch, and circuits for the add-and-subtract magnets of thetens digit switch includingsaid contacts, respectively, the said circuitof the add magnet including also the zero contact in a bank of the unitsswitch, and the said circuit of the subtract magnet including the ninthcontact in a bank of the units switch.

10. In a scoreboard, a set of tubular lamps for displaying any digitfrom 0 to 9, inclusive, a switch for controlling said lamps, said switchcomprising two circular rows of bank contacts, each row comprising fourquadrants each having ten contacts numbered from 0 to 9 in the samedirection around the row, condudtors leading from said lamps andconnected to selected contacts in said quadrants, respectively, a wipershaft, two sets of wipers mounted on said shaft and associated with saidrows of contacts, respedtively, each set of wipers comprising fourwipers spaced ninety degrees apart around the shaft, Va magnet forrotating said shaft stepby-step to cause the wipers of each set totraverse in succession all four quadrants in the associated row of bankcontacts, whereby each wiper becomes successively associated with thebank contacts in four diierent quadrants, and a second magnet adapted tobe energized in place of said rst magnet to rotate said shaft one ormore steps in 'fthe opposite direction.

automatically controlled by the, magnets and' wipersiof the unitsswitch, a control cabinet located ait a point remote from said lamps andswitches, a cable extending between the point where said lamps andswitches are located and said control cabinet, said cable including twooperating conductors for the add-and-subtract magnets, respectively, of[the units switch, and manually operated switching means at said controlcabinet for transmitting impulses over either of said operatingconductors at will.

12. In a scoring device, a set of tubular lamps arranged inpredetermined fixed relation such ithat the illumination of said lampsin different combinations will display diierent digits, a stepby-stepswitch, said switch having a plurality of contactstindividual to eachdigit to be displayed, a plurality of banks in which said contac arearranged in the order of the digits to which (they are individual, eachbank having a contact individual to each digit, circuits for said lamps,the circuit of each lamp including a conductor connected in multiple tothe contacts in one of said banks which are individual to the digits forthe display of which such lamp is required, a plurality of wipers forsaid switch associalted with said banks, respectively, stepping meansfor moving said wipers over said banks in either direction to cause thewipers to engage `the contacts individual to successively higher orlower digits, and means for supplying current through said wipers tosaid lamp circuits.

BERNARD A. WARMEY. c WIILIAM J. MORELAND, Jn.

